Rough, but no tumble

Brady struggles but scheme shines as Patriots stay perfect

Patriots 21, Chargers 12

FOXBORO, Mass. — On the day when the Patriots took the biggest step on their path to a perfect season, they were less than perfect.

You might even call them flawed.

Their quarterback threw three interceptions. Their star receiver caught one pass for 14 yards. They gave up 311 yards to an offense that was missing its best player and had its next two best players limping.

If this was the best performance from the best team in the best conference in the best league, the NFL isn't as good as we thought.

New England's coaching, however, was very good. NFL coach of the year Bill Belichick and his staff kept pushing the right buttons at the right times, providing the difference Sunday in a 21-12 victory over the Chargers in the AFC championship game.

Afterward, Belichick praised his players for winning and said coaching them was his privilege. But he was more responsible than anyone for the outcome.

In the first half the Patriots were outgained 204 yards to 139. The Chargers held the ball for more than 60 percent of the first half. And despite repeated attempts to move the ball downfield, the Pats had no pass play more than 14 yards.

So in the second half, the coaches decided to try something else. Actually, they decided to try everything else.

The Patriots came out with a variety of formations and personnel groups designed to keep the Chargers off-balance.

They used a lot of three-tight-end sets, plus some with two tight ends and two backs and some spread formations.

"We wanted to force them to defend everything," Belichick said. "From our spread offense to our tightened-down offense, from the vertical passing game to the intermediate passing game to screens and the whole works.

"I thought (offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels) and the offensive coaches did a great job of coming up with that."

After rushing for 16 yards in the first half, New England's Laurence Maroney had 106 in the second. And Brady, working the short and intermediate field, completed 78 percent of his second-half passes.

The combination of Maroney's runs and Brady's short passes provided the game-defining drive. With a nine-point lead and 9 minutes 13 seconds left, Brady took over on his own 13-yard line.

Eight Maroney runs and four short Brady passes later, the Patriots were ready to accept the Lamar Hunt Trophy. The Chargers never saw the ball again.

"That last drive really signified what this team is all about," Brady said.

Defensively, it wasn't always pretty. But it was pretty when it counted. The Patriots stopped three San Diego drives within the New England 9-yard line.

That was particularly significant considering that in the regular season, the Patriots allowed touchdowns on 58.5 percent of possessions inside their 20. That was the sixth-worst percentage in the NFL.

"We were very well prepared," linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "The coaching staff had a very good grasp of what they were trying to do.

"We'd see a formation and would be able to check into something and get the right play called and do a nice job with it."

The play of the day came on third-and-1 on the Patriots' 4 in the third quarter. Linebacker Junior Seau, looking more like 29 than the 39 he is, blew through the center-guard gap and tackled Michael Turner for a 2-yard loss.

Turner was playing because starter LaDainian Tomlinson aggravated a knee injury on the Chargers' first possession.

"Obviously, LT is the best running back in the league, and not to have him in there was a positive thing for us," Seau said.

It also was positive for the Patriots that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (19 of 37 for 211 yards and two interceptions) and tight end Antonio Gates (two catches for 17 yards) were hurting with knee and toe injuries, respectively.

But none of that diminished the Patriots' 18th victory without a loss.

"We now have one more game to be part of ever," Seau said. "That's special."